@BrendanMulcahy Yep that is batting, the same thing could happen at five. SA have got a good attack that is why this is a great opportunity to answer the doubts about him. If he can't do it then he can't say he hasn't had enough chances

by nickcricket7/5/2017 1:32:53 PM

I played against Charlotte Edwards when she was fifteen and she carted us all over the place. Only on the leg side, mind.

Alec Stewart talked up a Surrey player for England!?!? Are you sure Tim?

by Will7/5/2017 1:03:50 PM

Can't think England will need two spinners, hope bringing in Dawson would mean Moeen could bat at five and become the specialist middle order bat we need. Alas they are playing Bairstow at five which is hard to argue against given his FC average is something like 47

by nickcricket7/5/2017 1:03:49 PM

Root's back problem could be an issue to him bowling much but Jennings could offer a back up bowling option and replace Dawson with a proper batsman

by acarey877/5/2017 1:03:34 PM

Live Update

Tim Wigmore at Surrey 224-4 v Hamphire

At Surrey’s end-of-season dinner last year, Alec Stewart made a point of praising a player who, he said, was unfairly ignored by the England selectors but had the game and temperament to go straight into Test cricket, leapfrogging the England Lions. The reason that Rory Burns has not made a Lions appearance is his poor conversion rates - until today, he had made 5 half-centuries in 2017 without making a hundred, and only ten of his 42 first-class scores over 50 had been centuries. Yet another agonising agonising near-miss beckoned when Burns flashed to slip on 98 - the first chance he’s given - but Ervine, diving above his head, shelled the chance. The very next ball, Burns was given width from Edwards and lashed the ball through backward point. But Burns still has plenty more work left undone: Surrey need 499 just to avoid the follow-on. While waiting for the second new ball, still 17 overs away, Hampshire are being creative in pursuit of wickets: Kyle Abbott has been bowling to Dom Sibley with four catchers from square leg to silly mid-on on the legside, a sort of Bodyline theory in front of the wicket.

South Africa are only playing 3 seamers and Philander is only just passed fit...and Morkel is liable to break down at any point these days! Besides, England have the secret weapon of Jennings

by Matt_MYano7/5/2017 12:46:04 PM

@StaggerBreaths Piers wouldn't be so low down the order. Anything lower than 5 and he'd have his buddy KP whipping up a storm on social media.

by Kieran Layer7/5/2017 12:45:55 PM

Then again I am a pessimist and think that before every series. But people seem to be far too confident given the state of the England team. Maybe it's because we haven't played Test cricket for so long that people have forgotten how hopeless we were over the winter and in the Pakistan series at times.

by SDHoneymonster7/5/2017 12:44:37 PM

It's mad to play all the seamers with niggles as well as 2 spinners, if all the seamers go down sa will make hay of mo and daws

by dez dezzy7/5/2017 12:44:22 PM

@MattWarwick Yes, the team Cricinfo have put on twitter has him at 5. He would want to bat there personally think it makes the decision on two spinners worse. Think its odd they have been prepared to say it the day before, not even wanting to look a the pitch

by nickcricket7/5/2017 12:39:20 PM

Fairly certain we'll see a lot of rotation among the seamers this summer, the schedule verges on cruelty. Feel for TRJ, I just think he's been unlucky in the timing of his career - he burst through when England had decent depth and now there's a new generation on the cusp of breaking through, at 29 I don't ever really see him as much more than a useful player to call upon if Broad or Anderson went down injured.

by SDHoneymonster7/5/2017 12:37:16 PM

I'm really not that fussed with Dawson playing, but I would just like TRJ to play a game.

by Steadman197/5/2017 12:30:12 PM

Surely Wood will struggle to play back to back Tests meaning TRJ will play at the oval

by nickcricket7/5/2017 12:29:59 PM

We have 2/7. That's all. Not too bad, really? And South England isn't far of South Africa.

by Matt Warwick7/5/2017 12:29:42 PM

To be fair I wouldn't have Roussow anywhere near my team on current form.

by StaggerBreaths7/5/2017 12:29:35 PM

Oh come on u must be having a laugh, no TRJ?m???????

by dez dezzy7/5/2017 12:29:14 PM

Not again...

by Kieran Layer7/5/2017 12:28:59 PM

@MattWarwick Me because it means all the decent South Africans are at Hampshire?

by nickcricket7/5/2017 12:28:37 PM

May be joking now but who'll be laughing when Dawson has 400 runs and 30 wickets at the end of the series, eh?

by Matt Warwick7/5/2017 12:28:01 PM

Looks like TRJ will go without a cap. Reminds me of when they opted not to play Onions in Durham- you just knew that he was never going to get picked again.

by Kieran Layer7/5/2017 12:27:59 PM

Ah the wait continues for TRJ to play a test :(

by Steadman197/5/2017 12:27:49 PM

England like a child picking two half spinner because they think two wrongs make a right

by nickcricket7/5/2017 12:27:08 PM

Oh no he has a cold! How will he ever score a double ton if he's sneezing every ball?

Still stupid not to play TRJ at Lord's.

by StaggerBreaths7/5/2017 12:27:04 PM

@MattWarwick After putting on three hundred partnership will Ballance in the first innings

by nickcricket7/5/2017 12:26:16 PM

Joe Root has a cold. But will bat at 4 with Ballance 3. Dawson plays so Roland-Jones misses out.